Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
I think we will see a changing of the guard when it comes to first and second round picks for upper teams and their value in the near future.
More and more cap is going to 6-7 players on each team making the entry level players playing a role on cheap contracts more and more important. Teams that trade their firsts and seconds every year used to be just mortgaging their future for the present, but now they're mortgaging their present too because third and fourth liners are so unlikely to rise above the froth and become impact players.
You need those young players coming in and taking up spots.
The Flames have three on the blueline right now, and one up front on the second line.
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Unfortunately, the time to be supplementing this core with good ELC contracts has passed. We're seeing what you get when you build that way with Andersson and Valimaki and Dube, but unfortunately the Flames spent a ton of those picks for pieces that aren't with the team anymore or who weren't worth it in the first place.
The Flames also don't have the luxury of picking top 15 anymore like they did to establish their existing core group. The Flames will finish likely in the 20s, hopefully the mid or high 20s this year for first rounders. With the team more or less set on contracts, this is hopefully the new normal for the next 3 years.
The Flames don't need help when Gaudreau is 30, they need help now. Top end help that pushes guys down the roster.
Tre has breathed new life into the organization with the Lindholm/Hanifin trade, I think the flames would be nuts not to spend as much as possible early in their contention window rather than throwing picks at a problem 3 or 4 years from now after the core group can't get over the hump.
Good teams trade high picks early in their period of contention, bad teams trade them towards the end for one last kick at the can.
Set the team up for success. Trade a 1st and a prospect and a marginal roster player for Hossa and Dupuis and see if you can't get your young group to the conference or cup final.